Place of Tribunal

Can anyone help? Is it possible to have the tribunal Hearing for ESA at a centre closer than the one given. My client has been requested to go to Birmingham when he lives in Luton (Dunstable) would be the nearest centre for hearings.

Hi drcb

Unless there is some logistical reason why the hearing has to take place in Birmingham it should be possible to have it switched. It's well worth ringing Tribunals Service and speaking to a Clerk to ask if it's possible to have the hearing transferred to Luton.

Good luck

Derek

That's bizarre, drcb.

Do let us know how you get on with having it switched from somewhere about 90 miles away to somewhere about 5 miles away.

Be fascinated to hear if there was any rationale for their suggested venue... maybe they though your client would like a day out seeing the sights on Brum.

By a bizarre co-incidence(?) I have just had my initial letter from the Tribunals Service and it says "The office dealing with the appeal is: Administrative Support Centre Birmingham."

I was expecting my appeal to be heard at Reading (Berks) which is my nearest.

What's going on? Can anyone enlighten me?

Hi Andy/drcb

The office dealing with your appeal is not necessarily the one where the hearing takes place.

The Tribunals Service Administrative Support Centre have their central offices in Nottingham and Birmingham. My appeal was dealt with by the Birmingham office but the hearing was at my local tribunal venue.

Unless you actually get a letter telling you that the hearing is scheduled for Birmingham, with a date, you don't need to worry.

Regards

Derek

Thanks, Derek. I'll reset the panic button.

I suppose we only believe these bizarre things might be possible because the whole system is so Alice in Wonderland anyway. Was it the Red Queen who practiced believing six impossible things before breakfast? She should try reading some of the posts on this site!

Cheers,
Andy.